Nashville Scene
Best of Nashville: Food and Drink
Planning a visit?
Check out the Nashville Scene's guide to food and drink, featuring plenty of new and upcoming eateries.
Nashville’s dining scene has grown dramatically in the past decade and is now regularly included on “best-of” lists by publications such as Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure and Southern Living.
Home to a number of award-winning restaurants and chefs, the city’s ever-expanding food options include cuisines from around the world, as well as signature dishes like Nashville hot chicken and other Southern classics.
In addition to many celebrated establishments in areas such as Germantown, Hillsboro Village, 12 South, East Nashville and other neighborhoods, a new stretch of international restaurants and grocery stores populating a corridor running along Nolensville Road offers flavors from Central and South America, the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Middle East.
In the nearby Gulch neighborhood, there are a number of trendy brunch spots and a growing range of vegetarian and health-forward options. The city also offers casual favorites close to Vanderbilt’s campus, such as the Pancake Pantry, Biscuit Love, the Grilled Cheeserie, Banh Mi and Roll+, and San Antonio Taco Company, a cherished Commodore gathering spot started by a pair of university alumni.
Vanderbilt encourages students to try different eateries through Taste of Nashville, a university-sponsored program that enables undergraduates to use their meal plan at participating restaurants around town.